Can cooling apparatus

ABSTRACT

An inclined enclosed chute is mounted upon a coil spring suspension. Individual motor driven means cause transverse and longitudinal vibration of the chute. A water spray system is disposed in spaced relationship to the bottom of the chute. Heated containers enter through a port in the upper end of the inclined chute and are subjected to the simultaneous effects of agitation and cooling due to the vibrating and water spray systems, respectively. An exit port is provided in the lower end of the chute for further distribution of containers passing therethrough.

United States Patent Thomas A. Moritz [72] v m 3,318,446 /1967 Grow 259 2x Strawberry Ave., Vineland, NJ. 08360 3,389,568 6/1968 Miller et al. 62/63 [21] Appl. No. 733,010 3,425,237 2/1969 McLeese 62/63X [22] Filed May 1968 Primary Examiner-William l. Price Patented 1971 Att0meysClarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson [54] CAN COOLING APPARATUS 6 Claims 6 prawmg Flgs' ABSTRACT: An inclined enclosed chute is mounted upon a [52] US. Cl 259/2, i Spring suspension Individual motor driven means cause 62/ 374; 259/ 54 transverse and longitudinal vibration of the chute. A water [51] Int. Cl B0lf /06 spray System is disposed in Spaced relationship to the bottom [50] Field of Search 259/2, 54; f the chute Heated containers enter through a port in the 99/360, 361; 62/63 375 upper end of the inclined chute and are subjected to the simultaneous effects of agitation and cooling due to the vibrating [56] References cued and water spray systems, respectively. An exit port is provided UNITED STATES PATENTS in the lower end of the chute for further distribution of con- 3,083,547 4/1963 Stevens et al. 62/3 74X tainers passing therethrough.

70 I0 COLLECTION AND J 68 22 I ,6 PACK/N6 STAT/0N PATENTEU M26 I97! SHEET 2 OF 2 Thomas A. Mar/f2 INVIiNTOR.

Anome 1 CAN COOLING APPARATUS This invention relates to a container handling apparatus and more particularly to a vibrating conveyor chute which includes means therein for cooling containers passing therethrough.

At the termination of many food canning processes, a heated comestible is deposited into a can and conveyed to a packing station where a large number of such cans are placed in a shipping carton for distribution. It is desirable to thoroughly cool the contents of the cans before being placed in a shipping carton. The prior art includes many attempts toward a successful solution to this problem. Certain prior art devices include a conveyor chute with cooling spray means contained therein which cause the cans to cool during traverse of the chute. However, these devices have been found to be less than satisfactory due to the static nature of the contents contained within the can which retain their heat even thought the can exterior is cooled. A further evolution of the prior at art includes a chute with the aforementioned cooling spray means with the addition of a feeding mechanism for the chute which causes the cans to roll theredown so as to cause a mixing of the contents in the can during the cooling process. Although limited success is possible with the latter system, circulation of the interiorly situated contents toward the can walls is not achieved thus resulting in a retention of heat within the can during ta traverse of the chute.

The present invention includes a spring suspended chute which is subjected to vibration in the transverse and longitudinal planes. A water spray system is enclosed within the chute and causes cooling of cans passing therethrough. Thus, as hot cans are conveyed, they are subjected to vibration which causes agitation of the contents in each can thereby completely mixing and cooling the same. Accordingly, the contents of each can are uniformly cooled prior to deposit at a and collecting and packing station.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the present vibrating cooler chute. 7

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial end view of the aforementioned apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally denotes the present container handling device. A truss structure 12 provides fixed support for the device, the structure including two parallel inclined top rails 14 which may be of the I-beam type. An enclosed chute 16 is flexibly and yieldably mounted to the inclined top rails 14 by means of coil springs 18. These coil springs are suitably mounted between the top rails 14 and the bottom wall of chute 16 at equally spaced longitudinal intervals wherein each interval includes a coil spring mounted between the bottom wall of chute l6 and each top rail 14, in transverse alignment. As seen in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the upward end of the enclosed chute 16 includes a container entrance port 20 which provides a means of entry into the chute 16 for containers.

During passage of a container through the chute 16, it becomes subjected to a cooling operation as well as vibratory motion. The latter influence is provided by agitating means causing vibration of the chute 16 in a transverse as well as a longitudinal direction. The motor driven means for accomplishing longitudinal agitation is indicated in FIGS. 1 and 4 by reference numeral 22. Power transmission is provided by a first motor driven pulley wheel 24, the motor of which is permanently affixed to the truss structure 12 as shown in FIG. 1. The motor driven pulley wheel 24 is disposed in coplanar relation with a second pulley wheel 28, pulley belt 30 entraining the aforementioned pulley wheels. The second pulley wheel 28 is axially supported by a shaft 29 which is disposed in underlying relation to the bottom wall of the chute l6 and transversely thereto. A pair of aligned eccentric cams 32 are keyed to the shaft 29, the cams being in spaced relation to each other and inwardly disposed from the longitudinal sidewalls of the chute 16. The shaft 29 is supported by spaced bearing blocks 34 which in turn are secured to respective top rails 14. A second pair of spaced bearing blocks 36 append perpendicularly from the bottom wall of chute 16 at the upper end portion thereof for supporting a second shaft 37 therein, shaft 37 being disposed parallel to shaft 29. A pair of spaced rollers 38 are coaxially secured to shaft 37, each of said rollers 38 peripherally contacting a respectively positioned eccentric cam 32.

In operation of the longitudinal agitating means 22, cams 32 are caused to rotate by the linked pulley wheels 24 and 28. Peripheral contact between the eccentrics 32 and respective rollers 38 cause a longitudinal reciprocating motion of bearing block 36 with respect to stationarily fixed bearing block 34. Because bearing block 36 is suitably fastened to the bottom wall of chute 16, a reciprocating longitudinal motion is imparted thereto. As seen in FIG. I a longitudinal coil spring 39 is connected between the truss structure 12 and chute 16 thereby forcing close contact between the eccentrics 32 and respective rollers 38.

Transverse vibration of chute I6 is accomplished by means generally denoted by reference numeral 40. This means includes a first motor driven pulley 42 aligned in coplanar relation with a second pulley wheel 44, a belt 46 entraining the pulley wheels. The pulley wheel 44 is axially supported by a shaft 48 disposed in underlying relation to the bottom wall of chute 16 and parallel to the aforementioned shafts 29 and 37. A pair of eccentric earns 50 are secured to the shaft 48 in spaced relation to each other and inwardly disposed form the longitudinal sidewalls of the chute 16 so that the earns 50 simultaneously engage respective top rails 14 once per revolution of pulley wheel 44. The aforementioned coil spring suspension maintains the bottom wall of chute 16 in spaced relation to the top surface of top rails 14 during periods of disengagement between cams 50 and top rails 14. The ends of shaft 48 are rotatably secured in respective journal blocks'52 suitably attached in overlaying relation with the longitudinal sidewall of chute I.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, these latter mentioned journal blocks 52 are rigidified by an inverted U-shaped connector plate 54, the bight portion of which is suitably attached to the bottom wall of chute 16. The outward end portions of the U- shaped plate 54 are rolled around and secured to connecting rods 56, the ends of which are in turn suitably anchored in the journal blocks 52. As more particularly shown in FIG. 1, a pair of bearing blocks 58 are mounted to the outward surface of each top rail 14 and extend upwardly therefrom so as to slidably contact the outward surface of each journal block 52. The purpose of these bearing plates 58 being to restrict lateral jiggle of the chute during vibration thereof.

In operation of the device, the transverse agitation means 40 provides transverse reciprocating motion to the chute l6 simultaneous with longitudinal reciprocating motion by longitudinal agitating means 22. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, transverse motion is accomplished by the pulley driven eccentric earns 50 which cyclically engage the top surface of respective rails 14 thereby causing an upward transverse displacement of the chute 16. Upon disassociation between the eccentric cam and its respective top rail 14, the weight of the chute 16 coupled with the effect of foil springs 18 causes the chute to quickly return to its original position until reengagement between eccentric cam 50 and a respective top rail 14. Attention is directed to the plurality transvertoward the middle of chute 16 so that a container passing therefore therethrough is peripherally subjected to the cooling effect of a sprayed liquid. As FIG. 4 illustrates, a main supply pipe 68 provides a supply of water to the longitudinal pipe 62 within the chute 16.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a can or other container delivery structure generally denoted by reference numeral 70 includes a plurality of metal rails disposed in spaced relation to one another and maintaining a rectangular cross section by means of straps 72 entrained about the rods at spaced intervals therealong. The rods terminate immediately inwardly of the entrance port 20.

In operation of the device, cans or other containers approach entry to the chute 16 as indicated by 74. After said entrance, the container is guided theredown by means of guide rails 78 suitably affixed to the interior surface of the bottom wall of chute 16. During can traverse of the chute 16 as indicated by 76, the heated can becomes subjected to simultaneous longitudinal and transverse agitation which causes a thorough mixing of the contents in said can. During this time, liquid spray nozzles 66 direct a cooling liquid about the periphery of a passing can causing uniform cooling of the can contents. An exit port 80 is provided in the lower end of the enclosed chute 16 which directs the can toa station 82 for collection and packing, the cans having been sufficiently cooled to a desired temperature. The station 82, for example, can be a conventional motorized turntable and conveyor unit.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

lclaim:

l. A container handling device comprising container guiding means for directing container motion along a preselected path, fixed support means, flexibly yieldable means mounted between said support means, and said guiding means for yieldingly suspending the latter, agitation means operatively associated with said guiding means for causing agitation of the contents of handled containers during said container motion and means for cooling said containers during said container motion.

2. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said agitation means include first agitation means for imparting transverse reciprocating motion to said guiding means and further including simultaneously operable second agitator means for imparting longitudinal reciprocating motion to said guiding means.

3. The device set forth in claim 2 wherein said second agitation means is operatively connected to one end portion of said guiding means and further wherein said first agitation means is operatively connected to a medial longitudinal portion of said guiding means.

4. A The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said container cooling means includes a plurality of liquid spraying nozzles disposed in said containers, said nozzles being oriented to cause spraying of said liquid about the of each container.

5. A container handling device comprising an inclined chute ford directing a plurality of containers theredown, a stationary support structure a plurality of coil springs mounted between said su port structure and said chute thereby flexingly suspen ing said chute, first agitator means and second agita or means for respectively imparting reciprocating transverse and reciprocating longitudinal motion to said chute thereby causing a thorough mixing of the contents in each container and liquid spray means disposed in spaced relation to said containers and causing spraying of liquid on said containers during their motion down said chute.

6. The combination of claim 5 including means for feeding said containers to said chute and further including a collection and packing station disposed adjacent'said chute at a lower end thereof for conveying said containers from said chute. 

1. A container handling device comprising container guiding means for directing container motion along a preselected path, fixed support means, flexibly yieldable means mounted between said support means, and said guiding means for yieldingly suspending the latter, agitation means operatively associated with said guiding means for causing agitation of the contents of handled containers during said container motion and means for cooling said containers during said container motion.
 2. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said agitation means include first agitation means for imparting transverse reciprocating motion to said guiding means and further including simultaneously operable second agitator means for imparting longitudinal reciprocating motion to said guiding means.
 3. The device set forth in claim 2 wherein said second agitation means is operatively connected to one end portion of said guiding means and further wherein said first agitation means is operatively connected to a medial longitudinal portion of said guiding means.
 4. A The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said container cooling means includes a plurality of liquid spraying nozzles disposed in said containers, said nozzles being oriented to cause spraying of said liquid about the of each container.
 5. A container handling device comprising an inclined chute ford directing a plurality of containers theredown, a stationary support structure a plurality of coil springs mounted between said support structure and said chute thereby flexingly suspending said chute, first agitator means and second agitator means for respectively imparting reciprocating transverse and reciprocating longitudinal motion to said chute thereby causing a thorough mixing of the contents in each container and liquid spray means disposed in spaced relation to said containers and causing spraying of liquid on said containers during their motion down said chute.
 6. The combination of claim 5 including means for feeding said containers to said chute and further including a collection and packing station disposed adjacent said chute at a lower end thereof for conveying said containers from said chute. 